Many Parking Spots Off-limits

Oia Probably Will Not Open Terminal-top Spaces Or Spaces In Garages Close To The Terminal.

November 18, 2001|By Tim Barker, Sentinel Staff Writer

The nagging question for many holiday travelers as they head to the airport this week is: Where will I park my car?

During this terrorism-altered holiday season, travelers can expect to find changes at Orlando International Airport -- among them, fewer parking spaces.

That's because about 1,800 spaces above the airport terminal, the so-called terminal-top parking, have been declared off-limits. Another 900 spaces were lost in the two parking garages connected to the terminal.

They were rendered useless by the horrible events of Sept. 11, after which federal rules said any vehicle parked within 300 feet of the terminal has to be searched for explosives or anything else that could be used to hurt others.

But for the first time since those new rules were put in place, those convenient spaces may be put into play this week. Terminal parking is the most expensive at the airport, costing $12 a day for the first four days and $15 a day after that.

Airport officials will be watching its two terminal-parking garages, which have nearly 7,000 spaces. If they fill up, the terminal-top parking could be reopened, but only if staffed with enough workers to check every car entering the area.

"It's an option that will be demand-driven," said Ronald Lewis, director of airport operations for Orlando International.

But if you show up at the airport and find that option open to you, be forewarned.

No car will be allowed to park above the terminal until it has been searched -- both the interior and the trunk -- by airport security. So if you are running late, don't expect to zip into a terminal-top slot.

How long will these searches take?

"It depends on what's in the car," Lewis said.

But if you prefer to park in the airport's cheaper remote lots -- where parking can be had for $6 a day -- you may not notice much of a difference from last year. In fact, considering that fewer people are traveling this year, the parking lots may seem less full.

The airport does not expect to have any trouble accommodating Thanksgiving traffic using the Blue and Gold remote lots, which hold 6,600 cars between them.